Trump says a government shutdown could ‘last for a very long time’

The U.S. Capitol is seen reflected after rain in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. The Republican-led House approved funding for President Donald Trump's border wall in legislation that pushes the government closer to a partial government shutdown. The bill now goes to the Senate. | Associated Press photo by Jose Luis Magana, St. George News

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (AP) — Facing a midnight deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, President Donald Trump said Friday a closure could drag on “for a very long time,” and he tried to lay blame on congressional Democrats if there’s no deal over his demand for the U.S.-Mexico border wall money.

Trump’s tweet came ahead of a meeting with Senate Republicans to discuss the budget deal and border security. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to answer questions as he left the Capitol with other GOP senators on their way to the White House.

Only a week ago, Trump said he would be “proud” to shut down the government, which Republicans control, in the name of border security. “I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down,” he asserted.

But with the hours dwindling before the midnight deadline, Trump sought to reframe the debate and make Democrats the holdouts to settling an impasse that threatens hundreds of thousands of federal workers on the eve of the end-of-the-year holidays.

En route to a meeting at the White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, walks with Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, as work continues prior to a Friday night funding deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, in Washington, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Trump is imploring McConnell to change the Senate’s rules in order to pass the spending bill with money for a border wall. | Associated Press photoby J. Scott Applewhite, St. George News

And he exhorted McConnell to corral enough Democratic votes to send a House-passed plan to the White House, even though the measure is almost certain to be rejected in the Senate.

“Senator Mitch McConnell should fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he fought for anything. He will need Democrat votes, but as shown in the House, good things happen. If enough Dems don’t vote, it will be a Democrat Shutdown!” Trump tweeted.

Later in the morning, not even waiting for a Senate vote, Trump tweeted that “the Democrats now own the shutdown!”

Trump also encouraged McConnell, R-Ky., to change Senate rules in order to pass the spending bill, by lowering the threshold for ending debate on legislation from 60 votes to 51, as it currently stands for judicial appointments in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

“Mitch, use the Nuclear Option and get it done! Our Country is counting on you!” Trump tweeted, though McConnell has previously resisted the rules change.

A McConnell spokesman reiterated McConnell’s opposition, saying McConnell “has said for years that the votes are not there” among Republicans for the change.

“Just this morning, several senators put out statements confirming their opposition, and confirming that there is not a majority in the conference to go down that road,” David Popp said.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a signing ceremony for H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on the White House complex, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, in Washington. | Associated Press photo by Jacquelyn Martin, St. George News

The Senate has been called back into session to consider the package approved by House Republicans late Thursday, which includes the $5.7 billion Trump wants for the border with Mexico.

Senators had passed their own bipartisan bill earlier in the week to keep the government running with border security at existing levels, $1.3 billion, but no money for the wall. Both bills would extend government funding through Feb. 8.

The White House said Trump would not go to Florida on Friday as planned for the Christmas holiday if the government were shutting down.

More than 800,000 federal workers will be facing furloughs or forced to work without pay if a resolution is not reached before funding expires at midnight Friday.

At issue is funding for nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice, as well as national parks and forests.

Many agencies, including the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, are funded for the year and would continue to operate as usual. The U.S. Postal Service, busy delivering packages for the holiday season, would not be affected by any government shutdown because it’s an independent agency.

The shutdown crisis could be one of the final acts of the House GOP majority before relinquishing control to Democrats in January.

Congress had been on track to fund the government but lurched when Trump, after a rare lashing from conservative supporters, declared Thursday he would not sign a bill without the funding. Conservatives want to keep fighting. They warn that “caving” on Trump’s repeated wall promises could hurt his 2020 re-election chances, and those of other Republicans as well.

The GOP-led House voted largely along party lines, 217-185, to attach the border wall money to the Senate’s bill. House Republicans also tacked on nearly $8 billion in disaster aid for coastal hurricanes and California wildfires.

Some Republican senators cheered on the House, but prospects in the Senate are grim amid strong opposition from Democrats.

One possibility is that the Senate strips the border wall out of the bill but keeps the disaster funds and sends it back to the House. House lawmakers said they were being told to stay in town for more possible votes.

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61 Comments

This wall is an illusion and nothing but a pseudo-monument to Dotard’s own self-inflated ego.
It’s not going to happen. Not just because it has opposition from within Trump’s own party but because it’s enormously unfeasible. A wall such as the one little Donnie wants would have to cross nature reserves, private properties, rivers, streams, etc. etc. It would be bad for the environment and bad for America overall. And stop fooling yourselves, Trump lovers. Walls don’t work. Walls can be tunneled under(hello El Chapo) or easily scaled. This is a monumentally STUPID idea that isn’t going to happen. Get used to it.
Now, he’s willing to hang federal employees because he can’t get his 5 billion dollar pacifier. And Trump throwing child-like temper tantrums is not in any way presidential nor will it work. What kind of sick joke is this? You people call this man a president? That’s not what the rest of us are calling him.

Oh, and, something else for you Trumpsters to keep in mind.
If this government shutdown happens, Border Patrol agents will be affected by it. The very people meant to protect and keep our borders safe. They’ll still be working. They won’t be getting paid. And you can say, “but, but… they’ll get paid eventually” all you want. The fact remains, they will be working for free.

I don’t believe john ever did the multi-account trolling. John was quite predictable and easy to recognize and I don’t believe we’ve seen him for quite a while. It’s this ‘redbud’ guy. I think he might also be ‘happy commenter’ and also ‘IPfreely'(the s/n he began with). His burned thru so many names I can’t keep track. It’s quite silly really. Just something to keep in mind when replying to troll comments.

KilroywashereDecember 21, 2018 at 6:40 pm

Gee the trump fake SG comment Redbud conspiracy theory. Oh the pro Trump posters can’t be real people. Maybe Redbud is really in Belarus. Get over yourselves and the importance of this comment section. I will summon Mr. Dahl. I am sure with the limited number of regular posters it would be a slam dunk to identify if multiple false identities exist. Lol. But wait, is kilroy redbud too? Unlike you all anonymous folk, numerous times I have identified myself. Focus on the article not the commentors, otherwise I cant see why Mr Dahl will sustain this aspect of the SG news . Up to you to make it work. Good luck

iceplantDecember 21, 2018 at 7:04 pm

You sure blow a lot of smoke, Killjoy.

CommentDecember 21, 2018 at 8:02 pm

You trumpers are so delicate and easy to offend. I don’t take the comment section overly serious, but the trolls taking it over make it useless for everyone. There has been a pro-trump troll hanging around using multiple accounts for a few mos now. It would seem to me redbud is it.

And just when I think I can’t dislike trump any more he does something like announcing plans to withdraw from syria and afghanistan AND REDEEMS HIMSELF JUST A BIT. If it makes those Israeli warmongering bloodlusting parasites shed a few tears over their lost war revenue it’s a good thing. One of these days the terrorist nations of Israel and Saud will be brought down. cheers 😉

RedbudDecember 22, 2018 at 5:58 pm

Ok so I will chime in for a minute. I do not have multiple SG news accounts, I only have Redbud, and I will keep it that way. I am proud to say that I voted for Trump. I am proud of his accomplishments. I don’t know if Trump will get the wall built because yes, there are republicans and democrats that don’t want the wall, and I respect that. I also can’t blame the president for trying. I believe we need to do something about illegal immigration. President Trump made a campaign promise to build a wall, I support Trump, I support the wall. I do believe it will help, so I can’t help but support it. I don’t if comments or Comments are seperate accounts or whatever, but I am not either of them, and I do not have any other accounts. I have never felt the need to create another account to comment because I have always been able to say what I want to say with my own Redbud account. I think there are a lot of people who automatically hate Trump supporters, so those people feel a need to attack me or silence me. Even if you held a gun to my head, I would never retract my support for Trump and for this country, or what I believe in, and I will not be ashamed for supporting what I believe in. If you don’t want the wall, don’t believe in it, you hate Trump, then that’s fine, that’s your opinion. I believe the wall will help, no it won’t solve all our problems with illegal immigrants, but I definitely think it would help. Border patrol agents have a difficult job, and I feel like they could focus more of their efforts where they are needed, if sections of the border were more difficult to cross. I welcome all immigrants who come to the country legally, but I can not and I absolutely will not tolerate illegal immigration and I will do anything to support making it more difficult to cross over. I don’t want to pay more in taxes to pay for all the problems illegal immigration causes. That’s where I stand, and that’s why I could never support a president who did not take border security seriously. That’s why I voted for Trump over Hillary, because she would just open the gates and mount a giant welcome sign above it, and let everyone in. I have no problem with a Democrat or republican being president but they absolutely must take illegal immigration seriously.

CommentDecember 23, 2018 at 12:21 am

OK, I can’t tell who’s who on this thing. I with you on the illegals. Just so so tired of being invaded and colonized.

This era of constant shutdowns is so destructive. It’s bad enough we have relied on Continuing Resolutions for so long but regularly threatening to furlough almost a million people that serve American needs is ridiculous.

And Trump owns this shutdown. Trying to brand this as a “Democratic Shutdown” after he so bluntly said he’d proudly shut our government down is ludicrous. Whatever happened to the confidence in his deal making? Didn’t he write a book on this process or something? It’s almost like his campaign was built on a myth or something 🤔

Iceplant, yes it is not a good thing that they have to work for free so we are in agreement. But, it will all be worth it in the end to have the wall built. I know you don’t agree with me on that, but that’s ok. We’ll agree to disagree.

With all the issues surrounding the southern border, why wouldn’t we want to do everything we could to secure it? The wall is but one piece of this. Why don’t the Republicans offer some negotiations on a reformed system? The system in place isn’t working and I have to believe there are some in DC who have given this some thought. So yes, let’s have a wall and upgraded electronics as part of the real issue — immigration reform. It’s time to contact your public servants and demand more from them.

Because “walls” are ultimately just an expensive game of cat-and-mouse. Not to mention the ecological destruction accompanied by building such a structure.

And furthermore, security on the southern border is relatively strong compared to historical norms. The “wall” was a campaign tool used to agitate fears and it worked. But it has no real justification given data. We aren’t under siege or experiencing an “invasion”. Crime isn’t as serious as the rhetoric states. But fear is a powerful wedge tool especially in times of economic uncertainty like most Americans have experienced in recent decades.

If our country truly wanted immigration reform we wouldn’t have elected Trump. The wall was always going to be divisive and lead to showdowns like this. And it ultimately distracts from any chance of bipartisan, comprehensive reform. And I firmly believe that is Trump’s game plan.

such a fool bike
Immigration…. AS IN PLACE NOW works and needs no reform just follow current law.
What Needs to be FEFORMED?
I’m an Immigrant and did it the right way.
Took a long time but i’m here now

Facepalm. I’ll wait for the irony of that comment to settle in for a bit.

Just GuessinDecember 22, 2018 at 6:11 pm

OK bike, your brain freeze gone now? Your loss for words?
answer the question, what is broken in the Immigration law that needs to be reformed?

bikeandfishDecember 22, 2018 at 7:33 pm

Just guessing, educate yourself. Start by googling “visa overstay”.

Or spend sometime as an employer dealing with great foreign job applicants yet uncumbered by expensive and timely visa restrictions.

Just to name two current issues.

Just GuessinDecember 23, 2018 at 8:10 pm

Overstay of a visa is not immigration? WTF? Really that all you got . You just broke the law on a visitors permit if you stay…. right bike?
Visas are not immigration, do a google…. search its a TEMPORARY work permit.
So uninformed it’s sad.
As to your second theory,
Quote “PS…. immigration reform includes funding and hiring court nominees to deal with the ridiculous backlog in processing everything from illegal entry to asylum processing. Both issues Trump rails on about. “End Quote

We don’t need more government to fix what isn’t broke. We already have that in so many ways.
You don’t even have a clue do you just spewing talking points in an over edu-macated stand point.
Pretend you want to immigrate to the US from RUSSIA! RUSSIA! RUSSIA! or anywhere else for that matter and see what it takes and get back to me.
I went through it I know first hand….
Merry Christmas and I wish you and yours all the best in the New Year

PS…. immigration reform includes funding and hiring court nominees to deal with the ridiculous backlog in processing everything from illegal entry to asylum processing. Both issues Trump rails on about.

Just GuessinDecember 26, 2018 at 7:48 pm

So its been three daze blowhardfish and still no answer.
Visa is a credit card and expires…. when its over you reapply or they cancel you.
Asylum is a law and has rules … just like Immigration but neither visa or asylum are Immigration.
Waiting for that over formulated and over edu_macated answer one more time.

“What is broken with Immigration law that all the talking heads and politicians pound into THE AMERICAN PUBLIC heads every day for decades?”

Cause I want it fixed too if its broken.
Name one thing.
you and iceplant get together again off screen and figure it out and get back to me, OK?

bikeandfishDecember 26, 2018 at 8:52 pm

Justguessing,

You are trying to redefine what “immigration” and therefore “immigration reform” have meant for decades. Immigration doesn’t simply deal with those seeking citizenship. It deals with the wide range of people seeking temporary to permanent status in the US.

The fact that you don’t understand how “visa overstays” explicitly deal with immigration, ie illegal immigration, exposes a major flaw and deficit in your understanding of the issue. Visa Overstays account for 30-40% of illegal immigrants in the United States at any given time.

As well, immigration is the explicit pervue of the federal government. They have a duty beyond legislation to enforce and judge the issue. Hence, the need to address our perpetually underfunded and understaffed immigration courts.

And “asylum” is a definitive type of immigration. Are we in bizarro world now? I meam “Affirmative Asylum” is handled through USCIS, ie Citizenship and Immigration division of the Department of Homeland Security. “Defensive Asylum” is handled through EOIR, ie Executive Office for Immigration Review. Both immigration in their title. It doesn’t get more obvious than that.

Denying facts and reality is not an excuse for such ignorant statements on your part. Maybe you should spend more time “edumucating” yourself and less time debating people who are more knowledgeable and rational. Just a thought.

Quote here from a former POTUS. 1907 Teddy Roosevelt
“”””We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an
American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.
But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American.If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.””””

Nuff said.

” Immigration doesn’t simply deal with those seeking citizenship. It deals with the wide range of people seeking temporary to permanent status in the US.”

No… that is asylum (ie FREELOADING) totally different bike

“The fact that you don’t understand how “visa overstays” explicitly deal with immigration, ie illegal immigration, exposes a major flaw and deficit in your understanding of the issue.”

Already explained that to you bike? what you can’t read? If you break the law on the way in you are not eligible and if you break the law while you are here on a visa … Bye Bye

” Visa Overstays account for 30-40% of illegal immigrants in the United States at any given time.”

Bye Bye law breaker

“As well, immigration is the explicit pervue of the federal government. They have a duty beyond legislation to enforce and judge the issue. Hence, the need to address our perpetually underfunded and understaffed immigration courts.”

That was-is a bunch of baberwalkie. explain that last paragraph again?
The POTUS sets immigration policy according to the law of the land, The CONSTITUTION not a gang of black robes dude or dudett. (Wanted to be politically correct but that is as far as I will go on that).

” “asylum” is a definitive type of immigration. Are we in bizarro world now?”

yes we are

“I meam “Affirmative Asylum” is handled through USCIS, ie Citizenship and Immigration division of the Department of Homeland Security. “Defensive Asylum” is handled through EOIR, ie Executive Office for Immigration Review. Both immigration in their title. It doesn’t get more obvious than that.”

you are right the SCAM doesn’t get any more obvious than that

“Denying facts and reality is not an excuse for such ignorant statements on your part.”

I would ask the readers who is ignorant bike

“Maybe you should spend more time “edumucating” yourself and less time debating people who are more knowledgeable and rational. Just a thought.”

you sound angry and non-inclusive right there cupcake.

That was a good ending there bikeless, You are a true GiveMeDat, read the Constitution, federalist and non federalist papers for definitions and then get back to me.
Not sorry I may have changed your way of thinking but get some facts first cause next time I will quote Constitutional Law. The Law Of The Land.

bikeandfishDecember 28, 2018 at 11:12 am

You make no sense, Just Guessing. I truly have no clue how you can defend the notion that these issues aren’t in the pervue of immigration and you haven’t actually provided any evidence they aren’t. I actually have federal process on my side and you choose to cite an unrelated speech about assimilation to me? My guess is you are trying to to make some esoteric comment about the “law of the land” while ignoring the well supported fact that asylum, short term worker visas, all the way to naturalized citizens all fall under the umbrella of immigration and therefore Immigration reform in the United States. You aren’t forming a coherent or logical argument. Best of luck interacting with others but I’m done until you start engaging in good faith. Should have stopped days ago when you went down the lame rabbit hole of name calling.

A few weeks ago the President asks the pentagon if they can build the WALL answer was YES it is within their scope of duties.

Then the President meets and ambushes the GiveMeDats leadership over the WALL and like a WALL they don’t budge but show the people who they are.

Then the President in the same meeting says he will take full responsibility for a government shut down if we don’t get WALL funding and watches the two GiveMeDat leaders pee themselves over what they thought was a win.

Next in a snap of the fingers we are pulling out of Syria and we get the head of the pentagon resigning. (Thank You President Trump)

Now after the President fainted to caving on the temp funding bill slams it in their faces and says no WALL no sign BIGGLY. (Thank You President Trump)

Then we hear of the President talking of pulling out of Afghanistan…(Thank You President Trump)

Is it just me or is there going to be a bunch of unused money in the military budget next year?

Damn what a setup and knock down many campaign issues all at one time.

Trump has always made it clear that he intended to strengthen the wall; disgusted Americans demanded it when they voted for him. Everyone knows that if this wall is not financed before the dems take over the House in January, there is no chance it will be funded afterward. The liberals want to open our coffers to all kinds of freebies, such as taxpayer-supported abortion for minors who do not even have to let their parents know, allowing totally functional teens to claim they “feel” they are the opposite gender to shower with whomever they will in the schools, US funds to be thrown into the hands of any liberal so they will vote democratic, religious rights to be tossed aside at the desire of just about any outlandish claim that someone wants to make, and so much more.
I am disappointed that the GOP had their chance for two years to get some of these important things done, but they failed the people. I would love to see enough moderate independents win the House and Senate so that no major party had majority. The Independents could listen to the needs of the people and vote for what was right; both parties have some good in them and could offer a lot if they were not always playing politics the day they get elected.

jpff very good post thank you for your sanity
Only thing I think you got wrong is there is no GOP and a DNC (In my humble opinion)
They are all one in the same, it’s all about the money, you don’t matter, otherwise this would have been a done deal years ago.

Wow…. that was a hole bunch of over-educated words all strung together there ice. Did you have to take a breath after that puke? Hope you didn’t get any on your shoes.
Elaborate please on the Fallacies, conjecture, and conspiracies.
I’m happy to reply… see bike went down the rabbit hole again.

The Wall will happen….and No the shutdown does not affect the Border Patrol….ICE Yes, but not the Border Patrol…the … dems have promised the Wall for 25 years ( just look up Hillary & Crying Chuck Schumer and Obamas videos of the past, it’s there. do your homework ),…so now they will have it
Ed. ellipsis

Congress wouldn’t even miss their paychecks. Left(L) or Right(R).
They make more on back room deals with lobbyist, insider stock trading and so many other things than they get paid, that’s why they are all rich when they leave.

There’s about to be a mass starvation of federal employees. I hear all these sob stories about how so many of them can’t even save a week’s worth of pay. I’M CRYING ON THE INSIDE! THOSE POOR POOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES! Maybe the UN can move in with some relief effort for those poor souls!

Absolutely absurd.

If they’re so incompetent/inept/irresponsible/idiotic(choose a good word there) that they haven’t “been able to” set aside a little savings to live on during this furlough WHY IN THE HELL ARE THEY HIRED TO WORK FOR THE FED GOV’T??!?!

I would wager a good portion of these employees are not living pay check to pay check, though we know Americans tend to increase spending drastically over the holidays. That said, its not just an issue of one pay check. Back pay isn’t guaranteed in quantity or timelines. Even a family with stable finances will be hurt by missing 1+ paychecks.

But yes, many Americans, including federal employees, live pay to pay check. Its our fiscal reality in this country as pay has generally flatlined compared to cost of living. This is especially true for younger generations with an increasing amount of student debt. Or Americans with medical debt.

And an individual’s financial situation isn’t a reflection of their job performance. You really make a lot of unsubstantiated, wild accusations about our country.

Just GuessinDecember 23, 2018 at 8:41 pm

COME ON bike you really going there?
Fed employees are paid way over what they are worth especially NON-ESSENTIAL ones with all the bennies and no chance of getting fired.

If these fools haven’t learned to prepare for this kind of thing well….they deserve to suffer like the rest of US.
But I’m not suffering from it, are you?

bikeandfishDecember 24, 2018 at 9:44 am

Just Guessing,

Most federal employees I know took a pay cut to become civil servants. The one exception are wildland firefighters. But most people I know had lucrative options in the private sector but they chose their job with the federal government because of principle.

Bob, b&f sure does accuse you of being alot of negative things. I just want you to keep being Bob. Don’t let others negativity bring your spirit down

I mean, the government never really shuts down significantly. 800,000 employees will stil get paid, even the furloughed ones. Consider it a christmas vacation There’s food banks for them to go to. And landlords should understand and give them an extention, just like they do to us little folks.

“bikeandfish December 24, 2018 at 9:44 am
Just Guessing,
Most federal employees I know took a pay cut to become civil servants. The one exception are wildland firefighters. But most people I know had lucrative options in the private sector but they chose their job with the federal government because of principle.”

How many you know bike? and why they take a so called pay cut. Could it be they never get fired, premium healthcare and guaranteed pay raises? compared to the rest of the working class….

Nice job moving the goalpost. I was responding to your claim they are “way over paid” in relation to “If these fools haven’t learned to prepare for this kind of thing well….they deserve to suffer like the rest of US.”. Benefits don’t help when you aren’t getting a paycheck.

PS… about 20% of my friends are employed by the federal government in some fashion. None of them are wealthy and I don’t know a single one that can’t be fired. Given decades of shrinking budgets their jobs are rarely secure. They aren’t tenured like academic professors, who can still actually be fired.

There is a middle ground. What does it take for Americans to unite? I hate to say it. Really I do. The rule of law. If you do not like the current law, you the people can change it. However, what is the frame of reference for the rule of law? Is that frame of reference the American population? You decide! If you wish to invite the entire world to determine the rule of law, well that has its consequences. You better think hard. And unless you have travelled the world then what do you know?,?. Here’s my observation. Find a beautiful beach in India without human feces on the shoreline washing up 8n the sand, as far as the eyes can see. We are all different. It is no big deal to have human turds all over the place in India. Now simply think. A different culture. NO Judgement. So you go to the beach on vacation in S Carolina let alone CA or Or. ??????????? Yes MR Millineal it is not a video game. … up. Oops surfs up.
Ed. ellipsis

Ir you dont get it I am sorry. But the equation is simple. The global context is not the American context. Without rule of law there is no American context. We have a good thing going in this country. Negate the rule of law and guess what.. surfs up! Just dont wipe out and accidently swallow some one elses crap.